Urgent Need

Churches in Rwanda Need a Miracle

UPDATE: June 2, 2008

When we present a need to you we like to keep you informed as to how God is answering prayer. We have received emails form all three of the pastors in Rwanda. As of now the total need certainly has not been met but these emails and pictures are encouraging. The government has not yet shut Godfrey's church down since they have been able to make some progress. Praise the Lord, the government has not stopped Kacura's congregation from meeting on the lawn in the open, that amazes me since his temporary shelter, that they forbid him to use, was very neat. All three churches still need our prayers but they are very grateful for the progress they have been able to make.
Read the emails from the pastors here

A letter from Lovie Phillips

Dear Friends,

In 1994, the country of Rwanda was devastated by a horrible tribal genocide. A million people were brutally slaughtered within a nine month period. Unless you are a very new friend, you know that God Loves Kids has been actively involved in the ministry in Rwanda since shortly after the end of this genocide. I remember, as if it were yesterday, Syvelle and I watching a news program when they reported that there were 80,000 groups (of 8 to 15) children under 12 years of age, without a single adult, trying to survive by living together, under horrible circumstances. We looked at each other and said, “We wish there was some way for us to help, but we don’t know anyone in Rwanda and have no connection there”. A few days later we had a request to establish an orphanage in Rwanda, and shortly after God brought the connection and by a miracle, He provided the funds to purchase property.

Ever since then, God Loves Kids has been building schools in Rwanda. Today, we have three schools, one of which has almost 600 kids in it. Along with building schools, we have also helped plant several churches.

God called two of our very own kids (who grew up in our first children’s home in Uganda, UGRC) to go to Rwanda and help bring healing to that land. The first was Godfrey who lived in the forest of Uganda for six years after losing his father during the horrible war there. Then Kacura who never had a chance for any education until God Loves Kids took him into the home and school (UGRC).

Today they are both great men of God and are giving their lives to help bring the Gospel and healing to the land of Rwanda. In December 2005 Kacura planted his church in a strong Muslim community. When we were there in June 2007 he already had about 150 adults plus all the children.

I am very proud of both of these men – they are my kids. However our hearts are heavy right now because recently the government of Rwanda is demanding that any temporary shelter be torn down. They want to rebuild the country of Rwanda and don’t want tent-like structures or unfinished buildings. Godfrey’s and Kacura’s churches are both in temporary structures.

The country of Rwanda is making good progress and their people are so gracious and nice. It is hard to even imagine the cruelty and violence that destroyed so many lives, much of the infrastructure of the country, and a large part of the capital city. We are amazed at the progress they are making. So in some ways, I can understand them not wanting tent-like structures or, as in Godfrey’s situation, buildings with no floors. However, it is the new churches like Kacura’s and Godfrey’s that are making a difference and rebuilding the spiritual life of Rwanda and without God the old hurts and atrocities could certainly return.

These following emails are from my kids and one is from a pastor who is director of our largest school in Rwanda. All three of these churches need your urgent prayer and fasting for a miracle to take place.

KACURA'S EMAIL AND PRAYER REQUEST

“Dear Papa and Mama,

We were still praising God for what he did in our church, but the devil was not happy about it and he decided to close our temporary shelter we were using. Yesterday at around 3:30 P.M. the city council came and forbid us to continue using the shelter. Today I went and talked to the mayor, and he told me that they won’t allow us to use it anymore. Now we are trying to find a hall where we can conduct our services. We have tried to move but the problem is that it is very expensive, and they want us to give them money for the three months deposit and another month. So pray much for us because we don’t have any money to acquire this hall but in all this we believe that the LORD is in control. So pray for us that the Lord will make a way where there seems to be no way. May God bless you so much.

Your beloved Rwandan Son, Kacura Kanisiousk”

GODFREY'S EMAIL AND PRAYER REQUEST

“Dear friends,

Greetings in Christ’s name. I’m writing to request you to stand with us in prayers in a trying moment that Rwanda Church of Christ is going through generally. It looks like our Rwanda gov’t is not against churches (especially the new revival churches mushrooming), but it is the set policies of the development goals that are shaking the body of Christ and leaving many churches broken down and stopped completely from operation.

Who are the culprits/victims? Any new churches that are not yet established churches. Churches which have been existing for many years are not suffering at all. But the new born again churches which started after the genocide and have been making the difference in the lives of people, bringing salvation, repentance, and reconciliation to the human population, are facing serious closure due to lack of permanent utilities to those churches. Most churches are still praying in the tents, others in the semi-temporary shelters, but any church that has not yet finished is being closed. Many churches are crying in the whole city due to the city council closure of churches.

What is required to stay open:

• The running water/flashing toilet facility.


• The concrete floors/tile floors.


• The well furnished office.


• The well furnished concreted packing yard.

This is a serious action in operation of the churches in the whole city. It has been happening for now over three weeks, and many churches have closed. We need God`s merciful hand to intervene.

I`m now five days praying and fasting for the Lord to do a provisional miracle as we have gone with our church a very long journey of suffering and now all of a sudden be told to stop. I`m more than ready to even fast more days and pray until something happens in the heavenly realm and comes froward to help our church or even the body of Christ. It is very painful and life-taking to some of us who have fully invested our lives in the work of ministry and within minutes you`re told by the mayor to close your church. Everything has come to the stand still....you start on one or two of the requirements, the city council listens. But otherwise if you are totally doing nothing about it you are closed immediately.

Your beloved brother & sister in His service. Pastors Godfrey & Peace Gatete—From Rwanda”

LEO'S EMAIL AND PRAYER REQUEST

“Dear Brothers,

The aim of writing this letter to you is to ask you for your prayers. Our church has been closed by the authorities because of unfinished church building. We are now looking for place for rent which is not easy to get one [big] enough for our congregation.

We have been building a permanent building, but the funds we have can not raise the walls and finish the roof. We do not have any other alternative, we ask you to start praying for us and support us out of this problem.

Thanks, Pastor Leo”

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